Maryland Farm & Harvest: Episode 610

Premiere air date: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 7pm on MPT-HD

Program preview

Episode Description

Is anything more satisfying than a rich, chocolate brownie? What if by eating it you were supporting local farmers? We follow Maryland wheat from the field to Nagel Farm Service in Wye Mills, one of the state’s grain elevators, and eventually to Atwater’s, a Baltimore culinary institution. We’ll meet Atwater’s owner, Ned Atwater, who will explain why the wheat raised in Maryland makes such delicious desserts.

We take a look at the changing landscape of farming in Prince George’s County through the eyes of agricultural advocate and County Soil Conservation District Manager Steve Darcey. Viewers visit Steve’s farm, Edgewood Farm in Upper Marlboro, where he implements all the latest conservation practices, and Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro, home to a three-day soil health event organized by Steve. Finally, we visit a local community garden, where Steve and a soil scientist are using a piece of technology called an XRF analyzer to measure heavy metals in the soil—something particularly useful in developed areas.

Ham, bacon, and chops are just the beginning when it comes to pork. We’re taking a look at what it means to go "whole hog"—literally. Farmer Bob Mattie of Elysium Farm in Berlin explains his philosophy of raising pork and why be believes consuming nearly every part of the pig is a way to pay respect to his animals.

The Local Buy: Maryland isn’t known for growing rice, but if farmer Nazirahk Amen of Purple Mountain Organics has anything to do with it, someday it will be. Nazirahk explains dryland rice production to host Al Spoler, before his wife Na’Amana offers Al a taste of the crop via a delicious vegetarian gumbo.

Then & Now: Soil Science

Production stills

Thingamajig

Tobacco Cutter

This is a tobacco cutter, used to measure and cut tobacco plugs—or tobacco leaves that have been pressed into bricks. The lever moves the blade up and down to cut off a section of the
brick that would be sold to customers.